What is your baby doing?
- Smiling in response to your smile
- Cooing and babbling when he plays
- Kicking and waving her arms when excited
- Lifting his head up and pushing himself up during tummy time
- Becoming much more aware of his environment
What not to worry about - Smiling
Some babies smile from six weeks, and some babies don’t, so try not to be concerned if your baby isn’t one for big toothy grins. While many babies smile by two months, some wait until they are three months but it doesn’t mean they are not happy and contented. By 6 months all babies will smile ecstatically at the people they know best.
How to help your child at this age
- Encourage babbling (this is the beginnings of spoken language) by spending time talking to your baby.
- Keep your conversations simple with short sentences and words.
- Talk with your baby rather than at him/her. Meaning give your baby time to respond to what you are saying with a look or babble. Research shows babies with parents who allow them to respond, learn to talk earlier.
- Buy toys that encourage kicking. Babies at this age kick easily when lying down, which is great exercise for them and helps strengthen their legs. Try kick and play toys that make noises or a baby gym with musical toys.
Troubleshooting - “I don’t know how to talk to my child”
“It sounds so silly but I used to feel tongue tied and stupid about talking to my daughter I know no one was listening but it felt awkward. Then my mother suggested I try a simple running commentary while I dressed her and changed her nappy and played with her. It really helped me to feel more relaxed and easy about chatting to her.”
Hannah, 29 mum to Carly 4 years.
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